FAQs
Why do you use Anima and what if I can’t access it?
We use Anima to help triage patient problems effectively and ensure that each patient is offered the most appropriate type of appointment or support. Every clinical Anima submitted is reviewed by a GP, who will assess your needs and decide on the best course of action – this may be an urgent appointment, a routine appointment, prescription, referral or self-care advice.
If you are unable to access Anima online you are still able to get help:
Visit the surgery in person to complete a paper triage form
Call the surgery and our reception team will be happy to complete the form for you by taking details over the phone
Why do I need to go to Lowford for an urgent appointment?
The Lowford Centre is the home of our Urgent Care Centre. We have centralised all urgent care to increase capacity of urgent appointments, this helps us to provide faster, safer and more consistent care for patients requiring urgent attention. It has also allowed us to increase routine capacity at both surgery sites which improves experience for all patients. In addition, it provides more consistency back at the practices for complex patients who benefit from seeing the GP who knows them.
Why have I been asked to call back to get an appointment?
Currently, we release our routine GP appointments on a weekly basis for two weeks in advance however these releases do not occur on a set day which means our reception team is unable to give patients a specific day or time to call. We do understand how inconvenient it can be when routine appointments aren’t immediately available. Unfortunately, due to high demand and finite capacity we sometimes need to ask patients to call back when new appointment slots can be booked.
What availability do you have outside of normal opening hours?
The Lowford Centre still holds a number of extended access appointment clinics, these include MSK practitioner appointments, blood tests, Advanced Nurse Practitioner appointments and GP appointments. If you are unable to attend the practice during opening hours and require an evening/weekend appointment, please let our reception team know and they will be able to arrange this for you.
Why am I signposted elsewhere?
Our priority is to ensure you get the right care, at the right time, from the right healthcare professional. There are several local services that can often help more quickly and appropriately for certain conditions. Some examples of this are –
Pharmacy First initiative where community pharmacists can assess and treat seven common conditions without the need for a GP appointment www.nhs.uk/pharmacyfirst
Primary Eyecare Service who now manage most eye conditions www.primaryeyecare.co.uk
There is also a helpful guide on our website ‘Right Clinician, Right Time, Right Place’ – Who Do I See? – Hamble Valley Health which advises the best route for many conditions.
How do I get help for my children?
The Healthier Together app is an excellent resource to use for patients under 18. The app contains useful information about common symptoms and illnesses, helping you understand what to look out for and how to manage your child’s health at home. You can also submit your child’s symptoms directly, if they are flagged for urgent attention the details will be sent to the surgery where a clinician will review and take appropriate action if needed. There is also useful advice that young people can access independently, providing information on a range of topics such as online safety and staying healthy.
The website can be accessed here – healthiertogether.nhs.uk and provides links to downloading the app.